Multiple-installation-refrigeration system



Aug.. 13, 1929. w. F. THATCHER MULTIPLE INSTALLATION REFRIGERATION SYSTEM Filed May 25, 192B .www l INVE TO fm/fgiw BY l n wv /r ATTORNEY Aug. 13, 1929, w, F, THA-[CHER 1,724,233

MULTIPLE INSTALLATION REFBIGERATION SYSTEM Filed May 25, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Aug. 13, 19,29.

UNITED STATES 1,124,233 PATENT OFFICE.

WELLING FIBRE THATCHEB, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOB TO SERVEL, INC., OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

' IULTIPLE-NSTALLATION-REFRIGERTION SYSTEM.

4,' Application led Hay 23, 1928. Serial No. 279,946.

My invention relates to refrigeration systems of the type known as multlple installations which are intended primarily for apartment houses.

In multiple installations a plurality of evaporator units placed in diiferent refriger-` ators, usually in different apartments.I one above the other, are connected to a common compressin and condensing unit, usually lom cated in t e basement o the apartment house.

Such systems contain a considerable charge 4of refri erant and as many refrigerants are harmfgul and others are irritating,

u if not actually harmful, it is advisable to guard against leakage because a leak in one apartment is liable to let a large amount o refrigerant corresponding to many refri eration units into the one apartment.

Some present lsystems concealed in walls which have beenknown to be punctured by nails driven into the walls and are inaccessible in case of leakage. Others are arranged so as to be more or less hazardous.

All refrigeratin systems at present used for `multiple insta lations have a high pressure side and a low pressure side. The principal content of the high pressure side is liquid refrigerant and the principal con tent of the low pressure side is gaseous refrigerant. Of the two parts of the system -thus deined, the high pressure side conf taining the liquid refrigerant deserves more liquid' refrigerant is equivalent to a ,relatively high amount of gaseous refrigerant. In other words, assuming that the two sides pressure side is not at all serious compared to a leak in thehigh pressure side. A small amount of liquid refrigerant escaping1 throughv a leak causesa large amount'of gaseous refrigerant when expanded into a room. My system takes these features into consideration in providing a system wherein 'the liquid or high pressure line is comi'have thin pipes attention from the point of view of safety' due to the fact that a minute amount off'pl't 0f the System 0f Fig- 1;

of the system be isolated, afleak in the low` tection thus aiforded,`the leakage will be into the low pressure line which is connected to the suction side of the compressor and such. leakage will not be into a room.

An objectionable feature of many multiple t pe installations at present used is that a lea anywhere in the riser pipe system extending up through the building is communicated to al1 apartments in the same tier due to the interconnection of the apartments by means of. what may be termed ilues through which the riser connections extend. My novel system is so constructed and arranged that should a leak occur in one apartment the refrigerant passing through such a leak will not be communicated to any other apartment b any ilues, tubes, or pipes or other type o conduit or passages associated with the refrigerating system.

I prefer to have the riser connections of my system arranged exposed within the rooms through which they pass and socolored as to indicate the refrigerant contained therein. This feature is principally for protection in case of fire.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompaning drawing on which:

Fig. 1 shows diagrammatically a house in cross-section with refrigerators on different floors in different apartments, .the arrangement embodying the present invention; Y

Flg. 2 is a sectional view, taken on line 2 2 of Fig. 3, of a junction box forming r Fig. 3 is a side view of the of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on line {1--4 of Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view ofv a ymodified junction boxtaken on line 5-5 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 6 is av full view ofthe junction box of Fig. 5; y

Fi 7 shows still another form of junctioF' onsalild f d d f 1g. 8 ows a re erre i e ar or the system of Fig. P p gu Referring more particularly to- Fig. 1, 105 which shows generally a multiple installation embodying my invention, reference character 10 designates the basement floor of an apartment house. The first, second and third floors of the apartment house are n junction box designated by reference characters 11, 12 and 13 respectively. The roof is indicated at 14. 15 is a general reference characterrfor refrigerators, letters following the number indicating the floor in respective alphabetical order. Likewise 16, 16", and 416c designate junction boxes for the respective refrigerators. The junction box in the basement 1s indicated by the suiiix x. I prefer two types of junction box, one of whlch may be termed left hand and the other right hand. Except for being right and left hand, the junction boxes of Fig. l are alike andare shown in detail in Figs. 2, 3 and 4.' Riser pipes extend vertically between the junction boxes, the high pressure liquld lines being inside the low pressure gas lines. The low pressure outer gas lines are shown at 17 in Fig. 1. Reference character 18 designates guards for the riser pipe which are preferred but which' may be omitted. The compressor 19, motor 20 and condenser 21 are arranged in the basement and are sultably connected to each other and to junction box 16". y

Referring now to Figs. 2, 3 and 4, the junction box designated generally at 16 comprises'a main box casting or forging member 22 and a cover 23 therefore. The main box member has lugs 24 for attachment to the wall of the apartment. It is hollow and has a central ridge 25 which, when the junction box is in normal position, is at an angle of 45 to the horizontal. Ridge 25 has an internal bore 26, plugged at the end by a plug 28 and having three. channel connections 30, 31 and 32.

A liquid line 33 extending up from below is connectedto channel connection 30. A liquid line 33 for carrying liquid refrigerant on up to the next higher apartment is connected at channel connection 31. A valve 34 has one connection threaded into the main box member 22 so as to be connected to channel connection 32 and has another connection 35 for connection to the liquid refrigerant supply line designated generally by reference character 36 in Fig. 1, connected to the local refrigerator.

` A second valve 37 is connected to a passage 38 leading to the space 40 of the main box member just under the cover and around the ridge 25 and outside pipes 33.V This valve 37 is connected at 41 to the gas space of the evaporator within the local refrlgerator cabinet. Thegas or vapor connections are generally designated by reference character 42 in Fig. 1.

The gas conduits 17 are Aconnected directly with space 40. The cover 23 is secured to part 22, so as to make a tight `oint.

It will be obvious from t e above that should there be a leak in the liquid line, the

escaping fluid will merely pass into the low pressure suction line and will not get out into the apartment. Also it will be seen that the heavier outside piping 17 and the junction boxes constitute a protection for the liquid line. At the places where conduits 17 pass through the floors I provide a tight connection (at 43) wherefore no refrigerant can leak from one apartment to another along any portion of the system. By removing cover 23, access is had for inspection of the liquid line connections and the arrangement is such that all connections are accessible with ease. By having the conduits 17 connected at diagonal parts of the junction box, assembly is facilitated. Also expansion and contraction is taken care of. The liquid line pipes are coiled somewhat within the junctionboxes thus facilitating assembly. Each refrigerator can be connected or disconnected without affecting any other refrigerator.

I prefer that the guards 18 be made so as to present a large outward angle with respect to the wall (see Fig. 8). Thisprevents damage to the riser pipes due to moving of furniture and the like. The guards and pipes should be painted to indicate the gas contained therein. Amongst other advantages, this would warn a fireman that the pipe should not be severed.

I also provide a safety valve 44, conveniently located, connected to the space 40 of the upper junction box 16c by a 1pc 45 and connected to discharge above tlie roof by means of a pipe 46.

By appropriately fitting the junction boxes with holes, some of which would be plugged, it is evident that I may use one type of junction box for all junctions.

Should a leak occur from the liquid line into the outer low pressure piping, the pressure in the outer plping will obviously rise. I therefore provide a pressure responsive element 48 adapted to open the motor circuit in case the suction line pressure rises above a predetermined excessive value.

Referring now to Figs. 5 and 6, the junction box is again designated at 16, though of different form, and the liquid lines are numbered 33 and the outer gas lines 17. The liquid lines are connected to a passageway 26 in the junction box, the pipes 33 bein spread at the ends as indicated at 49 and ho low studs 50 are forced against the spread portions to make tight joints preventing leakage between the liquid passageway and the gas passageway. A hole 51 serves for an outlet connection and a hole 52 for an inlet connection to the local evaporator unit. It i's obvious that the advantages of this arrangement are, in general, the same as of the previously described embodiment.

Fig. 7 shows another form having the same characteristics. Like reference characters designate corresponding parts in the different iigures. In Fig. 7 the ends of liquid lines 33 are tlared to make the necessary joints.

lt Will be understood that the invention permits oit other torlns than those disclosed.

Having thus described my invention, what ll claim is:

l. l multiple installation retrigerating system comprisingla compressor, a condenser, evaporators tor did'erent refrigerators, ajunction bon tor each ot a plurality of re trigerators, said junction box comprising separate liquid and gas channels', gas conveying conduits connecting gas channels ot ditlerent junction boxes and liquid conveyingr conduits connecting the liquid channels ot different junction boxes, said liquid conveying conduits being located Within said gas conveying conduits and the aforementioned parts being otherwise interconnected to formi a circulation system for refrigerant.

2. .l multiple installation 'refrigerating system comprising a vertical riser including low pressure refrigerant gas lines, high pressure liquid refrigerant lines Within said gas lines, junction boxes interposed in said vertical riser, means Within the junction boxes tor connecting the liquid retrigerant lines `while isolating the liquid lines trom the gas lines and arranged tor connecting the liquid lines to an evaporator and a connection tor connecting the evaporator with the gas lines.

8. .di junction boli tor use in retrigerating systems comprising a casing having a first space tor passage ot' gaseous fluid and a second space tor passage ot liquid fluid, means for connecting a plurality ot pipes to said second space so that said pipes pass Within said tirsty space and separate connections tor connecting the spaces With an evaporator.,

ln testimony whereof ll have aixed my signature.

WELlJlNGr FlSlE THTCHER. 

